Adaptor for using a plug-in type compact fluorescent lamp in an R7s lampholder

ABSTRACT

An adaptor having an adaptor base (10), shaped and dimensioned to fit over an R7s lampholder in such a way that contacts (06) in adaptor base (10) form electrical connections with contacts (03) in lampholder R7s, while boardholder (11) of adaptor base (10) is shaped and dimensioned to hold dimmable ballast (25) in electrical contact with contacts (06) of adaptor base (10).

This is a continuation of the following co-pending Chinese patentapplications serial no. 97 2 34970.7, filed Jul. 7, 1997; applicationserial number 97 2 42818.6 filed Dec. 5, 1997; application serial number97 2 42881.X, filed Dec. 11, 1997; application serial number 98 223882.7 filed Apr. 29, 1998; and application serial number 98 2 24088.0filed May 25, 1998.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is generally related to adaptors for lampholders.More particularly, to adaptors for halogen-tungsten torchiere stylefixtures using the R7s lampholder and to an apparatus for insertingcompact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in the R7s lampholder, instead.

BACKGROUND ART

Torchiere floor lamp fixtures such as that shown in FIG. 3, and similarfixtures manufactured to hold halogen-tungsten bulbs 80 with R7slampholders in a bowl 50 have been discovered to pose significant firehazards. The straight halogen-tungsten bulbs 80 for which such lampswere designed use significant energy (usually 300 or 500 Watts) andgenerate a significant amount of heat. When such lamps have been placedtoo close to draperies or other flammable materials the heat of thehigh--wattage halogen-tungsten bulbs has often been sufficient to causethe materials to catch fire. Similarly, when children or pets knock suchlamps over onto flammable surfaces, fires have sometimes ignited. Notonly do halogen-tungsten straight bulbs 80 of this type present a firehazard and consume significant energy, they also do not have a longlife. Usually such bulbs last only a thousand hours.

However, tens of millions of torchiere style floor lamp fixtures usingthis type of bulb have been sold around the world. The popularity ofthis type of fixture has made it difficult to use existing compactfluorescent bulbs as a replacement for several reasons. First, as seenin FIG. 3, the lampholder R7s for the straight halogen-tungsten bulbs 80of this type of torchiere floor lamp fixture has two electricalcontacts, R7s1 and R7s2 built into it. Existing compact fluorescentlamps (CFLs) were created to replace ordinary incandescent bulbs instandard tungsten incandescent lamps use E26, E27, B22 and other normallampholders for conventional incandescent lamps. These usually consistof prongs connecting the fluorescent tube to a ballast which, in turn isfixed in a lampholder designed to screw into ordinary incandescent lightfixtures. Consequently, the electrical connections in the lampholder R7sof torchiere-style fixtures do not fit those in existing CFL lamps andballast replacement units.

Since compact fluorescent lamps require a ballast to operate, which addsto bulk and size, existing compact fluorescent products are also notshaped to fit in the form factor of a torchiere lamp bowl 50. Up to nowthere has been no compact fluorescent product to replace the straighthalogen-tungsten bulb in existing torchiere style lamp fixtures.

Additionally, virtually all of the halogen-tungsten torchiere fixturessold have a dimmer switch incorporated in them. Fitting a ballast for acompact fluorescent into the torchiere form factor is furthercomplicated if the ballast also needs to be compatible with the commondimming switches used in halogen torchiere fixtures.

Also, modern compact fluorescents are designed to produce a more compactbulb with higher wattage. As the loads on the surface of the fluorescenttube increase, this causes the wall temperature of the compactfluorescent tube to increase. If wall temperature grows too high, themercury vapor pressure in the tube, in turn, becomes very high whichcauses the overall light efficiency of the compact fluorescent todecrease. In conventional compact fluorescents, a cool point on the tubeis created by structuring the appearance of the tube to include such afeature. However, this usually means the area of the cool point issmall, and thus its cooling effect is limited. If such a tube is placedin a more confined area than the one for which it was designed, the coolpoint may not be sufficient to keep the mercury vapor pressure in themore optimal range. Thus, attempts to design a compact fluorescentadaptor for the torchiere style halogen-tungsten fixture encounter notonly the problems of contact fit and form factor described above, butalso the problems of heat dissipation and mercury vapor coolingproblems.

It is an object of this invention to provide an adaptor for ahalogen-tungsten lampholder in torchiere-style lighting fixtures whichwill allow a compact fluorescent lamp to be used in the fixture insteadof the halogen-tungsten bulb.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

To satisfy the above purpose, the subject invention comprises an adaptorhaving an adaptor base 10, shaped and dimensioned to fit over alampholder R7s in such a way that contacts 06 in adaptor base 10 formelectrical connections with contacts 03 in lampholder R7s, whileboardholder 11 of adaptor base 10 is shaped and dimensioned to holddimmable ballast 25, in electrical contact with contacts 06 of adaptorbase 10. Adaptor cover 14 has opening 15a with a screw opening, andprongholders 15b positioned to hold compact fluorescent lamp 20'sdownwardly extending prongs into electrical contact with dimmableballast board 25. In a preferred embodiment, dimmable ballast 25 fitsinside well 11 of adaptor base 10 and adaptor cover 14 is shaped anddimensioned to fit over dimmable ballast 25 and onto adapter base 10 bypressure fit. Adaptor cover 14 also has grooves 17 to fit a standard 2Dcompact fluorescent lamp 20. Adaptor base 10 with dimmable ballast 25and adaptor cover 14 are inserted over lampholder R7s and screwed ontolampholder R7s, thus forming a low profile compact fluorescent lampadaptor for a halogen-tungsten torchiere style fixture. In a preferredembodiment, heat sink 12 is inserted into adaptor base 10 and prongs 22are shaped and dimensioned to fit over the fluorescent tube of compactfluorescent lamp 20, thereby providing additional cooling for the tubeof the compact fluorescent lamp 20.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing showing an exploded view of onepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2a is a top view of one implementation of adaptor cover 14 of theinvention.

FIG. 2b is a side view of adaptor cover 14 of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional tungsten-halogen lampfixture.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view of an alternative preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a standard 2D compact fluorescent lampfitted onto an adaptor of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the contact fitting of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an alternative preferred embodiment of adaptorcover 14.

FIG. 8a is an exploded view of the present invention, with FIGS. 8b atop view, 8c a side view and 8d another side view.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of an alternative preferred embodiment of theinvention showing an adaptor shaped to hold two compact fluorescents.

FIG. 10 shows two schematic views, 10a and 10b of a compact fluorescentlamp mounted in a torchiere bowl using the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the present invention showing themounting features.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, an exploded perspective view of the present invention isshown. A conventional R7s lampholder of a torchiere style fixture isshown with contacts 03, which are connected to the wiring inside thelamp base. R7s lampholder also includes an aperture 02, through which ascrew can be inserted to hold a lamp in place. In a preferred embodimentof the present invention, adaptor base 10 is formed with a generallyrounded skirt 13 which is shaped to fit into the bowl 50 of a torchierestyle lamp. Adaptor 10 is also shaped and dimensioned to contain aboardholder 11 which is an open area shaped to contain a printed circuitboard such as dimmable ballast board 25 in electrical contact withcontacts 06 of adaptor base 10. In a preferred embodiment, adaptor base10 also includes heat sink 12, with prongs 22, to dissipate heat andprovide a cool spot and act as a side holder for a compact fluorescentbulb 20. In a preferred embodiment, a dimmable ballast board 25 isinserted by simple pressure fit into adaptor base 10 and held inelectrical contact with electrical contacts 06. Dimmable ballast board25 is also inserted into boardholder 11 and locked in place by tab 11ain such a way as not to obstruct screw opening 09 in adaptor base 10.Also in a preferred embodiment, adaptor base 10 is formed of injectionmolded plastic of the PCB type.

Still in FIG. 1, adaptor cover 14 of the present invention, also made ofinjection molded plastic, is shaped and dimensioned to provide apressure fit cover over adaptor base 10. Adaptor cover 14 has screw well15a through which a screw can be inserted to hold adaptor cover 14firmly onto adaptor base 10 and in turn onto aperture 02 of lampholderR7s of the torchiere style fixture. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that other methods of fastening the parts together could beused, such as nails, or clips or other fasteners.

Remaining in FIG. 1, it can be seen that adaptor cover 14 also hasprongholders 15b which are shaped to hold the downwardly extendingprongs of a compact fluorescent bulb 20 (not shown in this view) inelectrical contact with dimmable ballast board 25. Adaptor cover 14 alsohas vents 16 along a portion of its top surface to provide additionalheat dissipation. In one preferred embodiment, adaptor cover 14 is alsoshaped to have groves 17 and a central depression 18 to hold a standard2D compact fluorescent lamp 20.

Turing briefly to FIG. 9, an alternative preferred embodiment is shownfor a two-lamp adaptor. Here, adaptor base 10 is rectangularly shapedand fits over a lampholder R7s. A dimmable ballast board 25 is insertedinto adaptor base 10, and covered by adaptor cover 14, which in thisembodiment is shaped with a generally rounded skirt 13. Adaptor cover 14in this preferred embodiment can be made of metal or plastic, and isshaped with a ridged area 14a to which sockets 17a are affixed. Sockets17a have prongholders 15b to hold the outwardly extending prongs 15c ofcompact fluorescent lamps 20 in electrical contact with the dimmableballast board 25, through wires or metal contacts connecting sockets 17ato dimmable ballast board 25. The potential advantage of thisalternative preferred embodiment for two lamps is that a higher wattage,higher light output configuration of compact fluorescent lamps can beused to retrofit the tungsten-halogen torchiere style fixture.

Now turning to FIG. 2a, a top view of the adaptor of the first preferredembodiment of the present invention is shown. Here, adaptor cover 14 isshown in place on top of adaptor base 10. In this preferred embodiment,adaptor base 10 has a generally concave, rounded skirt 13. As can beseen here, adaptor cover 14 fits over adaptor base 10 and includes screwwell 15a and prongholders 15b. In a preferred embodiment, a standard 2Dcompact fluorescent, such as those manufactured by General ElectricCorporation can be inserted into prongholders 15b and fit into groves17. In this top view of adaptor cover 14, vents 16 can be seen moreclearly as openings which allow heat generated by dimmable ballast board15 inside the adaptor to be dissipated. Also in this view, heat sink 12,with its prongs 22 is shown.

Turning now to FIG. 2b, a side view of the adaptor of the firstpreferred embodiment is shown, with adaptor cover 14 fitted on top ofadaptor base 10. The profile formed by the complete adaptor is a verylow one which is designed to fit unobtrusively inside the bowl 50 of atorchiere-style fixture. A cutaway view in FIG. 2b of adaptor cover 14shows contacts 06 inside which permit dimmable ballast board 25 insideto be held in electrical contact with a lampholder R7s. Note in thisview that skirt 13 of adaptor base 10 is not only generally rounded, butslopes down from adaptor cover 14, forming a generally concave unit. Ina preferred embodiment, skirt 13 is also made of a reflective materialor finish, to reflect light from compact fluorescent 20 up and away fromskirt 13. Also, those skilled in the art will appreciate that whileadaptor cover 14 is pressure fit to adaptor base 10 in a preferredembodiment, it could also be fastened in other ways, such as byadditional screws or clips or clamps. Alternatively, the adaptor of thepresent invention could also be made of one piece, such that adaptorbase 10 and adaptor cover 14 are formed as one piece to hold dimmableballast board 15 in contact with a lampholder R7s.

With reference now to FIG. 4, a cutaway side view of the alternativepreferred embodiment for a two lamp adaptor is shown. In this view, theridged area 14a can be seen sitting well below the lip of bowl 50 of thetorchiere style fixture. Each socket 17a holds one compact fluorescentlamp 20 in the same plane as ridged area 14, so that the compactfluorescent lamps 20 do not obtrude above the lip of bowl 50 either. Inthis alternative preferred embodiment, skirt 13 and adaptor cover 14 canbe made of metal or plastic, since the structure shields the electronicsfrom contact with the metal.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a single standard 2D compact fluorescent lamp 20is shown fitted into adaptor cover 14 of the present invention accordingto the first preferred embodiment. As can be seen, groves 17 in adaptorcover 14 hold portions of compact fluorescent lamp 20 in place, whilethose parts of adaptor cover 14 which contain vents 16 are above thelevel of the tubes of compact fluorescent lamp 20.

Now with reference to FIG. 6, a cutaway perspective view of the contacts06 of adaptor base 10 the present invention can be seen in electricalcontact with contacts 03 of the lampholder R7s of a torchiere-stylefixture.

In FIG. 7, a top view of adaptor cover 14 is shown, revealing screw well15a and prongholders 15b, as well as grooves 17.

Turning now to FIG. 8a, an exploded view of another alternativepreferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in which adaptorbase 10 and adaptor cover 14 are formed as one unit with a heat sink 12.Prongs 22 on heat sink 12, fit over the tube of compact fluorescent lamp20 and form a cool spot to dissipate heat and aid in controlling thecooling of the mercury vapor inside the tube, as well as in holding thetube. In a preferred embodiment, heat sink 12 is in contact with thebowl 50 of the torchiere style fixture, to dissipate the heat into thebowl 50.

With reference now to FIG. 10, a top view 10a and a side view 10b of anadaptor of the present invention, fitted with a 2D compact fluorescentlamp 20 is shown fitted inside the bowl 50 of a torchiere-style lamp. Ascan be seen in view 10b even with compact fluorescent lamp 20 fitted ontop of adaptor cover 14 which is, in turn fitted onto adaptor base 10,the profile of the replacement lamp does not protrude above the lip ofthe bowl 50 of the torchiere-style fixture.

Now referring to FIG. 11, in another exploded view of the adaptor of thepresent invention, screw 55 is shown in relation to compact fluorescentlamp 20, adaptor cover 14, adaptor base 10 and lampholder R7s. As can beseen here, compact fluorescent lamp 20 is pressure fit into adaptorcover 14, which in turn, is pressure fit to adaptor base 10. Screw 55holds the completed adaptor onto lampholder R7s.

In a preferred embodiment, the skirts 13 of the adaptor bases 10 of thepresent invention are made of light colored or reflective materials toreflect the light generated by the compact fluorescent lamps up out ofthe bowl of the torchiere-style lamp fixture.

Industrial Applicability

By using this utility model invention, a variety of the torchiere stylelight fixtures which were originally sold with the R7s lamp lampholderand tungsten-halogen lamps can now be retrofitted with standard compactfluorescent lamps. This not only greatly reduces the fire hazards posedby the original tungsten-halogen bulbs, but also provides significantenergy savings without detracting from the aesthetic design of thetorchiere style fixtures.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adaptor for a torchiere-style tungsten halogenlamp fixture having a bowl containing an R7s lampholder with twoelectrical contacts, comprising:an adaptor base having two electricalcontacts, the adaptor base being shaped and dimensioned to fit an R7slampholder such that said electrical contacts in said adaptor base formelectrical connections with electrical contacts in said R7s base, saidadaptor base also being shaped and dimensioned to form a boardholder; aballast printed circuit board shaped and dimensioned to fit inside saidboardholder of said adaptor base in such a way as to form electricalconnection when wired with said electrical contacts in said adaptorbase; an adaptor cover shaped and dimensioned with an upper surfacegrooved to hold at least one compact fluorescent lamp and an undersurface shaped and dimensioned to fit over the boardholder of saidadaptor base in such a way that said compact fluorescent lamp is held inelectrical connection with said ballast printed circuit board, forming acomplete electrical circuit which allows said compact fluorescent lampto be used in place of a tungsten-halogen lamp in said fixture withoutprotruding above the lip of said bowl of said fixture.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein said adaptor cover is shaped and dimensioned to holdtwo compact fluorescent lamps.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidadaptor base further includes a heat sink held in electrical contactwith said bowl to dissipate heat.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, whereinsaid heat sink further comprises prongs shaped and dimensioned to fitover the tube of said compact fluorescent lamp, for forming a cool spotto dissipate heat and control mercury vapor pressure in said compactfluorescent lamp.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said adaptorfurther includes a generally concave, skirt shaped area which fitsinside said bowl and serves as a reflector.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said ballast printed circuit board further comprises a dimmableballast printed circuit board.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidadaptor base includes a screw aperture through which a screw may beinserted.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said adaptor coverincludes a screw well positioned to fit over said screw aperture in saidadaptor base, so that a screw inserted therethrough will hold both saidadaptor cover and said adaptor base to said R7s base.
 9. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein said adaptor cover further comprises prongholderapertures through which prongs of a compact fluorescent lamp can beinserted to bring said compact fluorescent lamp into electrical contactwith said ballast printed circuit board.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said adaptor cover further comprises at least one top surfacearea having vent openings therethrough to provide heat dissipation. 11.An adaptor for a torchiere-style tungsten halogen lamp fixture having abowl containing an R7s lampholder with two electrical contacts,comprising:an adaptor base having two electrical contacts, the adaptorbase being shaped and dimensioned to fit an R7s lampholder such thatsaid electrical contacts in said adaptor base form electricalconnections with electrical contacts in said R7s base, said adaptor basealso being shaped and dimensioned to form a boardholder and to include aheat sink having prongs; a dimmable ballast printed circuit board shapedand dimensioned to fit inside said boardholder of said adaptor base insuch a way as to form electrical connection when wired with saidelectrical contacts in said adaptor base; an adaptor cover shaped anddimensioned with an upper surface grooved to hold at least one compactfluorescent lamp, said upper surface also containing a screw well and atleast one vent opening, and said adaptor cover also having an undersurface shaped and dimensioned to fit over the boardholder of saidadaptor base in such a way that said compact fluorescent lamp is held inelectrical connection with said dimmable ballast printed circuit board,forming a complete electrical circuit which allows said compactfluorescent lamp to be used in place of a tungsten-halogen lamp in saidfixture without protruding above the lip of said bowl of said fixture.